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Three weeks to go until the Great Australian Run! - 9/11/09

There’s just three weeks to go until the 2009 Great Australian Run and the excitement is building as we countdown towards Australia’s premier 15km event.

November is a great time to be in Melbourne, the weather’s warming up and its party season!

Now that the horses are back in the stable and the champagne bubbles are starting to subside, it’s time to get your fitness and nutrition back on track.

Having a goal to train for like the Great Australian Run keeps you committed and provides great motivation.

For those of you who haven’t done any training, don’t fret! Walking and jogging the 15km course through Albert Park and around the streets of Melbourne will be a pleasant way to spend your Sunday morning on the eve of summer.

Have you got friends or family who are sitting on the fence still undecided as to whether or not to enter?

With three weeks to go, now’s the time to give them a nudge!

Running is not only a great way to keep fit and active, it’s also heaps of fun especially when you run with your friends and family.

It’s not too late to enter visit www.greataustralianrun.com.au today!

Buster's Top Tips

This year, distance running star Craig 'Buster' Mottram will be jogging the 15km course amongst the masses on November 29.

The three-time Olympian shares some of his top tips ahead of race day:

• Train with friends and try and do it at the same time everyday.

• Keep well hydrated before, during and after training.

• Stretching is important provided it doesn't make you sore.

• When youre running, relax and dont push to the point of exhaustion. You should always be able to do more if asked to.

• Try not to change your diet prior to a training session or race day. Keep it simple.

• Wear comfy clothing and take care of blisters, chaffing etc as soon as they appear.

• Wear the correct footwear. Find a pair of shoes that feel comfy and support your style of running and foot strike. Remember a pair of shoes that feel great for walking may not feel great for running.

For more information visit an adidas store or adidas.com/running

Great Australian Run t-shirt hits the streets

Have you collected your sensational high performance technical t-shirt courtesy of adidas?

The new Great Australian Run t-shirts are proving to be a big hit with many joggers already spotted wearing the new design around the Tan!

If you haven’t already received your race pack, keep an eye out in your letter box - it will arrive very shortly.

This year everyone is jumping onboard!

You never know who you might meet on the start line at the 2009 Great Australian Run!

A number of sporting and entertainment celebrities have already signed up to participate in this year's event.

Swimming superstar Ian Thorpe will fire the starting gun, Olympic champion Cathy Freeman will be jogging the course, V8 supercar drivers Rick Kelly and Paul Dumbrell will be pulling on the runners and even James Sorenson who plays Declan on Neighbours will be amongst thousands of runners and joggers lining up on the start line at Albert Park.

The stars of international athletics will also be out in force on the course, including the past two Olympic marathon champions - Kenyan Samuel Wanjiru (Beijing 2008) and Italian Stefano Baldini (Athens 2008).

Beijing Olympians Collis Birmingham and Benita Willis will lead the Australian charge, the event doubling as the Australian Road Running Championships.

Why not raise money for your favourite charity?

Training for and taking part in challenging events such as the Great Australian Run is not only good for you, but provides an opportunity to raise funds for your favourite charity. Simply set up an online fundraising page through the Everyday Hero website www.everydayhero.com.au.

And why not choose the Humour Foundation whose core project is the Clown Doctors. Clown Doctors treat kids in hospital with a different kind of medicine, with doses of smiles and laughter.

By parodying the hospital routine, the Clown Doctors help children feel less traumatised by medical procedures. Oversized medical equipment, 'red-nose' transplants, 'cat' scans, humour checks and funny bone examinations are all part of the fun. By exaggerating intimidating jargon and procedures, fear and anxiety are reduced.

Make yourself smile. Raise $400 and you could put a smile on 100 sick kid's faces.

Looking for a fun and healthy activity for the whole family?

The Great Australian Run will be a whole weekend festival of fun and fitness! And it’s not only the adults who get to have all of the fun!

Saturday 28th November is the date for kids aged 11 to 14 to run or walk 5km in the IGA Junior Great Australian Run, whilst those aged 3 to 10 years of age can participate in the IGA Great Australian Family Run over 2km (with an accompanying adult if you like).

Both races will be staged on self-contained courses within Albert Park providing a fun opportunity for youngsters to burn around the Formula 1 Grand Prix Track!

Entry costs just $25 and all kids receive entry, an event t-shirt and heaps more!

Stay cool with Cool Ridge

Cool Ridge Spring Water is proud to be partnering with the 2009 Great Australian Run in Melbourne.

Cool Ridge Spring Water will be available on the day to ensure that the thousands of runners taking part are well hydrated for the epic 15km race.

Also in November, Cool Ridge is encouraging Australians to grow a mo as part of its major sponsorship of Movember, the annual charity event that raises funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically, beyondblue, the national depression initiative and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

In the spirit of the partnership, Cool Ridge bottles will feature classic mo styles such as the Magnum, the Chuck and the Mario and 5c from each bottle and six pack sold (up to $100,000) will be donated to the Movember cause.

Cool Ridge believes its always better to express, than repress because when you get things out of your system, you feel a whole lot better. For more information, please visit getitout.com.au.

Special training program in this month's edition of Run For Your Life

Don’t forget to collect your copy of Run For Your Life this month.

Inside you will find your Great Australian Run training plan in the latest issue available at your local newsagent.

Run For Your Life (R4YL) is your total running solution. Ensuring all you running needs are covered, R4YL produces Australia’s premier running magazine and provides the widest coverage and information on running within Australia.

R4YL collaborates with some of Australia’s top athletes, nutritionists, physiotherapists, masseurs and sports doctors to compile the most up-to-date and relevant running information available today. Each full-colour issue is an interesting and valuable source of information for runners at all levels, from beginners through to the elite.

And they have now opened the Run For Your Life Emporium. The Richmond location is a specialty running store with a state- of-the-art gait analysis system, designed to provide informative feedback to our clients. The store is staffed by experienced and educated runners who can provide expert advice on the extensive range of running shoes, apparel and accessories.

In a special offer for all Great Australian Run entrants, mention this ad in store for 15% off all adidas products purchased. This offer is valid until 30/11/2009 and not with any other offer or discounted product.

For more details visit www.r4yl.com.au or in store at 390 Burnley Street, Richmond.